Ottawa ACORN’s 2025 People Power Party: A Night of Wins, Community, and Pure ACORN Energy

Ottawa ACORN closed off 2025 in true ACORN style — loud, proud, and powered by community at our annual People Power Party! With more than 50 ACORN members packed into the room, the night was a celebration of everything we accomplished together this year.

Sara Laviolette, Chair of ACORN’s Chapter, opened the evening by leading chants that shook the walls — Who are we? ACORN! What do we want? JUSTICE! That energy carried through the entire night.

Leaders shared a powerful overview of what makes ACORN special: a membership-funded, independent organization of low- and moderate-income people fighting for justice through direct action, community power, and fearless organizing. And 2025 proved exactly why that model works.

This year, ACORN members won major victories:

• A historic national win capping NSF bank fees from $48 to $10 — saving people across Canada $4.1 billion over ten years.
• Stopping member Duane Hurdis’ illegitimate N12 eviction through collective action.
• Securing a Safe Sharps Disposal unit at Sandalwood Park after persistent community pressure.
• Packing a citywide Healthy Homes Meeting to demand real accountability from landlords.
• Winning more air conditioners for vulnerable tenants in 2026 through our Beat the Heat campaign.
• Driving the City’s work on Ottawa’s upcoming Renoviction By-law, backed by huge turnout and powerful testimony.
• And one of the biggest fights of the year: ACORN saved rent control from Doug Ford’s Bill 60 by flooding phone lines, sending over 25,000 emails, and rallying across the province.

In total, Ottawa ACORN knocked over 40,000 doors, brought in 3,250 new members, held 122 actions and meetings, turned out 1,700+ people, and made the news 42 times — nearly once a week!

Before a delicious potluck dinner, City Councillor Sean Devine joined ACORN members as our guest speaker to share a few words about why ACORN is important and necessary with so many issues in our communities that many politicians ignore.

After dinner, we celebrated the heart of our movement: our members. Awards recognized emerging leaders, long-time “Grand Oaks,” action warriors, media spokespeople, renoviction resisters, and the People Power Builder of 2025. Every winner reminded us that ACORN’s strength comes directly from its members stepping up, speaking out, and bringing others along.

We wrapped up the night with raffles, 50/50 draws, karaoke, and one final reminder: ACORN’s national convention is coming to Ottawa in June 2026 — and we’re ready to bring 100 Ottawa delegates to represent our city’s power on the national stage.

The People Power Party wasn’t just a celebration — it was a promise that ACORN is entering 2026 stronger, louder, and more determined than ever. Because when we organize, when we fight, and when we stand together…

THE PEOPLE UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED.